MEETINGS
CONNECTIONS MEETINGS NEWS
Meetings and incentive travel suppliers and buyers met at the inaugural Connections Meetings event last month. Martin Ferguson reports from Portugal
Mice market ‘must address security’
Meetings and incentive travel organisers, and destinations looking to host events, must adapt to increased security measures to secure business, according to an expert.
Speaking at the inaugural Connections Meetings forum in Portugal, Martine Ainsworth-Wells, a specialist destination consultant, said meetings organisers needed to find a balance between convenience and delegate duty-of- care against a backdrop of increased security at airports and venues. She said destinations and venue suppliers now had to present robust security credentials and slick accessibility to seal business. “Security and accessibility
are two of the top factors in the decision-making processes,” said Ainsworth-Wells. “Increased security will raise the amount of time it takes to get in and out of a destination or venue. The destinations that will win in the future are those making life very easy [for travellers and delegates].” Ainsworth-Wells is a specialist destination consultant focused on cities and countries that are hosting major events or have suffered major crises, and is a former head of marketing
“Destinations that will win are those making life easy [for travellers and delegates]”
communications for London & Partners. Assessing destinations affected by recent attacks, she predicted that Paris would bounce back faster than countries such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia. Speaking about the latter, she
said: “They are going to feel an immediate impact. Event organisers
are not too dissimilar to leisure travellers in that they want to be comfortable with a destination. They want delegates to feel safe.” However, she added that the
frequency and random nature of terror attacks meant society was entering a “new normal” period that could benefit established destinations such as Paris. She said: “The world becomes
a more even playing field for consumers. You can’t choose anywhere that will absolutely
guarantee your security.” › Upcoming Connections events:
weareconnections.com
PortAventura targets 20% UK growth
The meetings and convention venue attached to the PortAventura theme park in Spain is to increase its UK market focus this year. PortAventura Business & Events counts Britain among its most
lucrative markets, and is targeting 20% growth over the next year. International sales manager Jose Rodado said: “We are spending
more money and are hosting more site inspections. This year we will bring 10 senior buyers from the UK for a two-day trip.” He said the biggest challenge would be changing perceptions of the PortAventura resort, as some meetings organisers feared delegates would have to mix with families and children on holiday, or would be distracted by theme park rides. “We need to show meetings and conference organisers how they can make the most of our facilities,” added Rodado.
DELEGATES’ OPINIONS
Andre Van der Bijl, Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts
“It is a unique
way of making new business connections in a far more lasting way than the usual desk-to-desk format.”
Emily Martin, Amadeus “The event was memorable, fun and educational.
I will highly recommend Connections Meetings.”
Matthias Werner, Costa del Sol Convention Bureau “Connections
Meetings was amazing, not only on a professional level with new ideas, contacts and experiences, but also on an individual level.”
21 January 2016
travelweekly.co.uk 23
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